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APRIL 09, 2021 | The Indian Eye 44

ends will be interacting with us happy and excited because you
remotely during the game,” he want to be a part of the team
added. which is a defending champion
On the announcement of and that has done so well in the
the commentary panel, Sanjog IPL. So, it’s really nice.”
Gupta, Head -- Sports, Star and “I have seen Rahul, I have
Disney India said, “IPL is back played cricket with Jayant Ya-
with its 14th season, and we are dav and Krunal Pandya. It is very
proud to announce names of important to share each other’s
the faces who will be part of our experiences. There would be
commentary panel for the meg- many things that I know and
acast of nine concurrent live they wouldn’t, it works vice-ver-
IPL feeds that we’re delivering. sa as well,” he added.

riley Meredith raring to go Pollard joins the Mumbai
The Indian Premier League team
(IPL) has over the years worked West Indies all-rounder Ki-
as the perfect platform for eron Pollard on Wednesday be-
youngsters to shine and cement gan training with the Mumbai
their places in the national Indians squad for the upcom-
team. And it would be no dif- ing edition of the Indian Pre-
ferent for young Australia pacer mier League (IPL) 2021.
Riley Meredith. Pollard donned the Mumbai
The youngster was bought Indians jersey and announced
by Punjab Kings for Rs 8 crore his arrival in style. “Pollard is
at the mini-auction in February here”, said the all-rounder in a
after a fierce bidding war with video posted by Mumbai Indi-
Delhi Capitals. In an interaction ans in which the fans could be
with ANI, Meredith opened up seen asking about the where-
about his expectations from the abouts of the West Indies crick-
season and also revealed how he eter. Earlier in the day, ANI had
wishes to learn from seasoned Kieren Mumbai Indians won the last reported that Pollard just fin-
campaigners like Mohammed Pollard edition of the franchise ished his seven-day quarantine
Shami and Chris Jordon and re- period and was ready to train.
turn a further improved bowler. wickets. The best part of his matches in the IPL so far, man- “He left West Indies and
“Probably just looking for- game is that he can do the job at aging to take 156 wickets at an joined the MI unit in Chennai.
ward to I guess, watching games any point be it the start or at the economy rate of 7.87. He has He has just finished his quar-
and watching the best players in death overs or during the mid- played for franchises like Kolk- antine period as prescribed by
the world every day. It is a pret- dle. It is probably something ev- ata Knight Riders and Chennai the BCCI Standard Operating
ty exciting prospect, obviously eryone wants to do and I will try Super Kings. He was bought Procedure and that is why he
being able to play against them to pick his brains and learn. by Mumbai Indians for Rs 2.40 wasn’t seen around in MI train-
will be pretty unbelievable as “Jordon is probably one of crore in the players’ auction ing activities,” the source close
well, just looking to learn a lot the better death-over bowler held in February 2021. to the West Indies all-rounder
and hopefully some great expe- going around at the moment “I have played with Piyush told ANI.
riences,” said Meredith. in franchise cricket. The fact since U-19 days and I know he The IPL SOP only excused
“I think the biggest chal- that he has been able to do it all is a very attacking bowler which players who were part of the In-
lenge (of being in bio-bubble) is over the world across different is something we wanted in our dia-England limited-overs se-
boredom really. There is not too competitions speaks about how spin bowling department. He ries and moved directly to their
much to do so you are trying to good he is. I will definitely try to was a good buy, to get him into respective IPL bio-bubbles
keep your mental health occu- tap into what he does and hope- our squad. He is one of the high- from mandatory quarantine.
pied all the time. Obviously, it is fully, I can add a few tricks to my est wicket-takers in the IPL. He The Mumbai Indians out-
sometimes tricky, watching TV game,” added the 24-year-old. knows the format and oppo- fit suffered a scare on Tuesday
and getting some physical exer- sition, he knows the players,” after scout and wicket-keeping
cise certainly helps,” he said. rohit is impressed with Rohit said in a video posted on consultant Kiran More tested
When asked what he wants Piyush the official Twitter account of positive for COVID-19.
to learn from the likes of Sha- Mumbai Indians skipper Mumbai Indians. But fortunately, the test on
mi and Jordon, Meredith said: Rohit Sharma on Thursday said Speaking about playing for the players and the rest of the
“Obviously, Mohammed Shami Piyush Chawla was a very good Mumbai Indians in the upcom- support staff came negative.
is an unbelievable bowler, not buy in the players’ auction as his ing edition of the IPL, Chawla But as a precautionary mea-
just international wise, last few franchise needed an all-out at- said: “I got to know that I have sure, Mumbai Indians’ training
IPLs, he has been unbelievable tacking spinner. been picked by Mumbai Indians session for Tuesday was can-
and he has been taking lots of Chawla has played 164 at the auction, so I was quite celled.

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